China to Contribute $40 Billion to Silk Road Fund

New Trade-Development Push Gathers Momentum

BEIJING—Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday that China will contribute $40 billion to its new Silk Road Fund designed to improve trade and transport links in Asia, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

The announcement of how much money China will invest in the new fund comes on top of a $50 billion Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank that China established last month with 20 other nations. Mr. Xi said this past week...